With my thirties around the corner, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the past decade and wow, a lot can certainly change in 10 years.
Entering my Twenties
My twenties started off with me being easily moldable – I was continuing to figure out “who I was”, and learning about who I was becoming. Living in a new city for college, entering a new relationship with parties & events, unconsciously pressuring myself to have good grades while maintaining an active social life given the rise of Snapchat and Instagram – I was changing and constantly adapting.
Early Twenties: 20-23
The early 20’s tested me. Overall it was great time, my confidence sprouted. I graduated college, I had my boyfriend who has been my rock, and I’ve met friends who would soon become my best friends. My confidence sprouted, but it continued to be fragile these early years. The early 20’s were a start into adulthood, as I got older so did my family. I experienced reasons to be excited about this new chapter in life, but I also experienced grief and had to learn how to navigate these feelings … now that my parents didn’t shield me from the reality of life.
After college, I didn’t have a job aligned and I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but my optimism kept me going. I started my corporate work as an operations manager before finding my way into recruiting. As an operations manager, I kept the office tidy – helping with space management (moving furniture), keeping the office culture going, planning events & pretty much everything in between. These years were so pivotal to where I am today. I’ve learned how to navigate a corporate environment, how to work with great managers and not so great managers, how to build confidence in the workspace especially when there aren’t any other coworkers who looked like me at the time.
These were the years that I also got a taste of that consistent paycheck $$$ and a taste of a lot more independence. I spent money on … things – from fast fashion, drinks at the club, concerts, and Sephora.
No regrets though. Were there choices made that I probably shouldn’t have? Sure. Did they teach me valuable lessons? Yes. Did I have to say yes to every event? No. But did these concerts, festivals, and trips create memories that my friends and I still laugh about today? Yes & worth!
Did I need to buy another pair of booties? Nope. Did all the makeup solve my problems? Not quite. But did these purchases help me learn how to better spend my money in the future? To some extent, yes haha!
Mid-Twenties: 24-26
By the time my friends and I turned 25, we were joking that we were becoming “grandmas”. Which meant that we couldn’t stay up as late as we used to, couldn’t drink as much and recover as quickly as we used to. However, these were some of my golden years as they were filled with so many celebrations. We celebrated work promotions, celebrated many birthdays (mansion parties), and most importantly, celebrated each other.
I took the leap to leave my first job to join Google as a contract recruiter and it was one of the best decisions I made for myself. Leaving a place of comfort, a place that I started off, a place that taught me my first recruiting skills for a role that was … temporary. Quite literally, my role was a ‘Temp Recruiter’. My confidence was a bit shaky in the beginning as imposter syndrome is real – I went from a 100-employee company to one of the world’s largest tech companies and kept wondering if I just got lucky or am I actually good at what I do? I decided that I was going to work and learn as much as I needed to in order to succeed. It happened – I made mistakes, I stressed, I leaned on & learned from my team, I accomplished my goals, and I got converted and continued this journey.
During my mid-20s, I traveled from Bay Area and SoCal to celebrate milestones with my best friends, I traveled across the world to Japan and Thailand with Thomas, and traveled many times to the desert for Coachella and more Vegas trips. I didn’t only party, but I tested my mind & body during these years and ran my first 5k, 10k, and half marathon. I explored different exercises from the good ol’ fashion gym, to SoulCycle, CorePower Yoga, and my first pilates classes. My friendships got closer as we all spent almost all our weekends together while also going through our own growing journeys.
And then the pandemic happened.
Late-Twenties: 27-29
The world went into shut-down on the week of my 27th birthday.
The pandemic altered the world in more ways that I can imagine. Personally, it changed my perspective in life and it helped me understand what I value and how to spend my energy and time.
In my late twenties, I experienced how important mental health is and how detrimental it can become if left untreated and not taken seriously. I’ve learned to become more understanding for how people make decisions for themselves and learned that my thoughts and actions aren’t always right. I’ve learned that I don’t know what I don’t know and that there’s still so much more to life to learn and experience. In my late twenties, I’ve learned that even if it feels like the world is crashing in on you, if you can persevere, that with time, things do get better and you will become stronger.
Although I cannot predict the future, I think my late twenties has prepared me for my future and has set up a great foundation for this new era, my thirties.
My late-twenties have given me a different, better, stronger relationship with myself, my husband, my family, friendships, with my career, and with my health.
Through all of my 20’s and getting married! to my husband, I am lucky that we have truly been through everything together and I’m blessed to have a lover and partner in life who lifts me up and grows with me.
Through spending more time and having open conversations with my family, I have a more profound understanding and respect for them now that I can empathize the struggles they have been through and sacrifices they had to make – especially in their 20’s.
Through college and life after college, all the celebrations, and then coming out stronger post-pandemic, I know that my friendships are going to be my lifelong ones. I won’t be taking this for granted and I’m excited for us to continue to grow and support each other.
My confidence that sprouted in my early twenties has now grown into a young tree.
And I take this through my work as I can now feel confident to bring my full self to meetings and in conversations. ~10 years in the making! I get to do what I enjoy and get excited when I can learn from others and challenge myself.
And finally, through my 20’s I’ve learned that I cannot predict the future. I can only continue to invest in bettering myself and my health so that I can continue to cultivate all my relationships who will help me navigate and celebrate what the next decade will bring.
Bring on the 30’s!
Love, Shayna
